The Undergraduate Council this week sparred over sponsoring a comedy show this fall and decided to send a letter to the Dean of the College in opposition to the new prohibition on open alcohol parties in Houses.

At Sunday night's meeting, which also saw debate over placing condom machines on campus, the council shot down a proposal to spend $900 on a comedy night this fall. Some members opposed the plan saying it would duplicate and steal business away from a comedy show already sponsored by Phillips Brooks House.

"Our plans would show no charitable donations, and we may be taking a valuable source of funds away from PBH," said Steve Grover '89, an opponent of the plan. "[PBH] has thrown comedy nights for the past two years which have been very successful."

Jonathan H. Lawrence '90, who ran PBH's comedy night last year, spoke at the meeting, urging the council to dissuade the social committee from implementing its plan.

"There is only a limited market for comedy nights on campus," said Lawrence. "If people go to the council's comedy night, it could hurt attendance at ours."

Lawrence pointed out that PBH has a comedy night currently scheduled for February.

Some council members supported the plan in the interest of the council's own reputation.

"If we don't go ahead with with the social committee plan we may not have a social event this fall," said Andreas Beroutsos '88, chairman of the Academics committee. "We have to look out for the image of the council before any other organization.

The comedy night plan follows Ladysmith Black Mambazo's rejection of an offer to play at Memorial Hall, in a show sponsored by the Student Production Association [SPA], an arm of the council.

After 20 minutes of heated debate the council decided in a narrow vote to request a new proposal from the social committee.

The council also approved a letter critical of the financial burden Houses will bear when complying with the new alcohol policy. The letter will be sent to the Dean of the College, L. Fred Jewett '57 and the Committee on Housing.

Under the new policy Houses holding more thanfour parties must pay for "carders" to checkidentification.

The letter calls open non-alcohol parties a"financial risk" because House committees wouldhave to provide other attractions besides alcoholat parties.

The council overwhelmingly approved sending theletter and amended it to condemn the entire newalcohol policy and then attack some of itsprovisions